It’s been about three years since many students were formally introduced to AI through OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Here’s what concerns them the most about the technology.
Nearly two-thirds of students worry they’ll be falsely accused of cheating using AI, according to a new report from Project Tomorrow, a nonprofit education organization. However, students argue that AI has become a valuable resource.
“Students should be allowed to use generative AI in school because it’s part of the world we live in now, and to deny it would be like denying books,” said an 11th-grade student quoted in the report.
In addition to being flagged for cheating, the top concerns among sixth- through 12th-grade students are:
- Dissemination of misinformation (69%)
- People using AI to harm other people (65%)
- How personal data is stored or used by AI systems (57%)
- Inaccuracies in information provided by AI (56%)
Students in grades six through 12 were also asked what constitutes cheating. Perhaps relieving to educators, 70% of students agree that using AI to do homework is wrong, while only 15% disagree.
Students want to use AI to create outlines for a report or essay; only 44% labeled this as cheating.
Finally, students were asked to create a technology wish list. At the top was a learning device for every student (92%), followed by:
- Collaboration tools for projects (85%)
- Tools for teacher-student communication (84%)
- Online databases (83%)
- Access to AI tools (82%)
- Tools to create multi-media content (81%)
- Online curriculum (79%)
- Online tutors (77%)
Additional data
Here are some other key insights revealing teachers’ and parents’ perceptions of AI in K12 education:
- Only 18% of teachers have asked students about their personal AI use.
- 53% of teachers haven’t discussed AI with their students at all.
- 13% of teachers feel confident in their ability to use AI tools
- 15% of teachers say their district is providing ample professional development.
- 74% of parents believe AI skills are critical for college and career readiness.
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